Curtain-fixture.



T. P. HOPKINS.

CURTAIN FIXTURE. APPLICATION FlLED 'APR.16. 1918.

1,276,365. Patented Aug 20,1918" INVENTOR TRUMAN fiapjmvs ATTORNEY rinrrnn srarns rarnnr ora ion.

TRUMAN P. HOPKINS, OF SEATTLE, \VASI-IINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF OINE-HALF TO W. 1VL CROSS, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

CURTAIN-FIXTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 16, 191 8. Serial No. 229,198..

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, TRUMAN P. HOPKINS,

a. citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Curtain-Fixtures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in,

A further object of my invention is to provide a curtain fixture of a novel form-of construction through which the cords, that support the curtain or the like, may be passed .the fixture having a peculiarly arranged pawl that may be caused to engage with and hold the cords in a fixed position.

My invention consists in the novel construction of the fixture and'in the combination therewith of the curtain and the curtain supporting cords.

I accomplish hese objects by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in perspective of an apparatus embodyin mayv appear when utilized for hanging an ordinary window curtain or shade;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the brackets,

constructed fion; I Fig. 3 isa view in cross section substantially on broken line 3, 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar toFig. 3 except that some of the parts'are shown in a differ-' ent position; Fig. 5 is a plan view Off. slightly modified form of bracket, and

in accordance with myv inven Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional vlew suostan tially onbroken line 6, 60f Fig. 5. 1

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated an ordinary window curtain that is hung by the use of' my invention as it my fixture the same being considered suffi cient to illustrate the working of my invention when applied to screens, maps, awnings or any other form of curtain device that is adapted to roll on a roller.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 7 designates a frame which may be an ordinary window frame and 8 is a window curtain or shade that is provided at one end with a transversely extending stick 10 and is secured at the other end to a roller 11 upon which it is adapted to be wound.

The roller 11 is provided on each end with axially disposed pins 12 that terminate in knobs 13. I

The fixtures or brackets, more clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, each comprise a frame consisting of a bifurcated outer portion 14, a shank 15, a base block 16 and a screw threaded pin 17 that is adapted to be screwed into a support to hold the bracket in any desired fixed position, the several portions of the bracket preferably all being cast in one integral piece.

Provided within the shank 15 are two holes 20 and 21 that are adapted to serve as guides for the passage of cords, as hereinafter described, when the device is assembled.

Disposed between thev two sides of the bifurcated portion 14 is a pawl 22 that is pivoted on a transverse pin23, the pawl 22 being arranged so that when it is raised the point thereof will engage with the front wall 24 of the bifurcated portion 14 to hold a cord as more clearly hereinafter described.

The two sides of the bifurcated portion 14 are connected with each other by an integrally formed member 25 that serves as a stop and rest for the pawl 22 when such pawl is not in use. The member 25 also serves to tie the two sides of the bifurcated portion 14 together and give them greater. strength.

When the device is used on a window curtain as illustrated inFig. 1, the portion through which the stick 10 extends forms thetop of the curtain and the portion that is secured to the roller 11 forms the bottom of the curtain. V p

The curtain ishung by means of four cords 26, 27, 28 and'29, two of which cords are permitted to hang down on each side of the window and may be connected at their lower ends by rings 19.

The cords that hang down on one side of the window, as for instance, the cords 26 and 27, on the left hand side, pass upwardly through the bifurcated portion 14 of the bracket at the top of the window, thence downwardly through the perforations 20 where they divide, one of the cords 27 passing downwardly and being secured to the end of the stick 10 and the other cord 26 passing across the top of the window to the opposite bracket, thence downwardly through the perforations 20 and being se cured to the opposite end of the stick 10.

The cords 28 and 29 that hang down on the opposite or right hand side of the window pass upwardly through the bifurcated portion 14 of the right hand bracket, thence downwardly through the perforation 21 where such cords divide, the cord 28 passing straight down and being wound upon the right hand pin 12 of the roller 11 and the cord 29 passing across the top of the win dow to the left hand bracket, thence downwardly through the perforation 21 and being wound about the left hand pin 1.2 of the roller 11.

By the arrangement shown and described it is obvious that if a pull is exert-ed on the left hand cords 26 and 27 the top of the curtain which is connected with the cross bar 10 will be raised, the curtain unwinding from the roller 11, while if a pull is exerted on the cords 28 and 29 on the right hand side of the window, such cords will tend to raise the roller 11 and will also tend to run wind from the pins 12 and in so doing will turn the roller and wind the curtain on the roller thus raising the roller and rolling up the curtain at the same instant of time.

If the cords 28 and 29 on the right hand side of the window are released, sothat they will freely slide through the brackets, then the weight of the roller will unroll the curtain and lower it toward the bottom of the window and at the same time wind the cords about the pins 12.

If the cords 26 and 27 on the left hand side of the window are released so that they may run freely through the brackets, the top portion of the curtain will be lowered,

' while the bottom portion of the curtain will be wound upon the roller 11, the weight of the roller serving to rotate the same on account of the cords that are wound about the pins 12.

The pawls 22 are adapted to engage with and hold the cords 26, 27, 28 and .29, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, after the curtain has been adjusted into the desired posit-ion.

When the pawl 22 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, a' slight downward pull on the cords will cause the pawl to drop clownwardly on the member 25,,as shown in Fig. 4, so that the cords may move freely through the bifurcated portion 14.

After the curtain has been adjusted into the desired position the cords are pulled outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 4, so that they will engage with the end of the pawl 22 and are then permitted to be moved by the weight of the suspended curthen to adjust the curtain to the desired position with the cords hanging vertically from the brackets, then to pull outwardly on the bottom ends of the cords'and permit them to move upward a slight distance so that they will engage with and be held by the pawls-22.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have illustrated a form of bracket which embodies substantially the same elements that are disclosed in the brackets shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, but which provide in addition a swiveled member on the end of the bracket that permits the bracket to be secured to a block or ledge dis posed above or at one side of the bracket instead of being secured to a flat surface as shown in Fig.1.

The device shown in Figs. 5 and 6 comprises a bifurcated portion 30, a shank 31 and a base block 32 that is provided with a pivot stud 33 on which a plate 34 may be mounted.

The plates 34 terminate in an enlarged circular block portion 35 that is provided with a centrally arranged integral screw 36 by means of which it may be secured to a support. The plates 34 are secured on the pivot studs 83 by nuts 37 that they maybe tightened after the bracket has been adjusted in the proper position to hold the bracket rigid.

The shanks 31 are provided with perforations 40 and 41 similar to the perforations 20 and 21 and the bifurcated portions 30 are provided with pawls 42 similar to the pawls 22 and with stops 43 similar to the stops 25. The bifurcated portion 30 is also provided, adjacent to the perforation 41, with a transverse roller 44 over which the cords may pass, said roller serving to reduce any friction.

The operation of the device shown in Figs. 5 and 6, will be clearly understood by reference to the description of the operation, of the deviceshown in .Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

Manifest'ly, .changeslmay be made in the for s, dim n i s and-arrangement of parts of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A. curtain fixture, comprising a bracket having a base portion, a shank formed integral with said base ortion and being provided with two per orations, a bifurcated end portion integral with said shank and a pawl in said bifurcated portion to engage with and hold a curtain supporting cord.

2. A. curtain fixture of the class described, comprising a base member adapted to be secured to a support, a perforated shank on said base 'member, a bifurcated portion on the outer end of said shank said bifurcated portion having a substantially vertical front wall, a pawl pivoted adjacent to the. outer end of said bifurcated portion and adapted to engage said front wall when it is lifted and a rest for supporting said pawl in an inoperative position with the front end of said pawl spaced from said wall.

3. A fixture of the class described, comprising cords for hanging a curtain, a bracket having a base portion that is provided with means whereby it may be secured to a support, a shank connected with said base portion and having perforations pro vided therein, a bifurcated portion on the outer end of said shank, said bifurcated portion having a front wall over which cords may pass, a pawl pivoted between the two parts of said bifurcated portion near the outer end thereof, a rest for supporting said pawl in an inoperative position with its point spaced from the front wall of said bifurcated portion sufficiently to clear said cords that pass over said wall, said pawl being adapted to be lifted by said cords and bind said cords tightly against said wall when the lower ends of said cords are pulled outwardly to cause said cords to engage the ends of said pawl.

4. A fixture of the class described, comprising a portion for securing it to a support located at one side of said base portion,

a shank on said base portion, said shank havin perforatlons thereln for the passage of cords, a bifurcated portion on the end of portion said plate being adapted to be turned on its pivot into any angular position about said base portion, means on the outer end of said plate for securing it to a support, a perforated shank connected with said base portion, a bifurcated portion connected with said shank, said bifurcated portion having a substantially vertical front wall, a roller in said bifurcated portion, a pawl pivoted adjacent the outer end of said bifurcated portion and adapted to engage with the front wall of said bifurcated portion when it is lifted, and a rest for supporting said pavivil with its end removed from said front wa In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 3rd day of April, A. D. 1918'.

TRUMAN P. HOPKINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

